Elise Stefanik, Randy Fine Skewer US Colleges for not stopping antisemitism | WATCH

Republican lawmakers unleashed a barrage of criticism at university leaders during a contentious House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on Tuesday, accusing elite institutions of tolerating antisemitism, pro-Hamas rhetoric, and harassment of Jewish students. The session, marked by fiery exchanges and disruptions from protesters, underscored growing frustration with what critics described as systemic failures to address hostility toward Jews on college campuses.

Chancellors from the University of California, Berkeley; Georgetown University; and the City University of New York (CUNY) faced intense scrutiny over their institutions’ handling of professors and students accused of glorifying terrorism and targeting Jewish students. The hearing, which echoed past Republican-led efforts to hold university leaders accountable, saw lawmakers demand concrete action rather than vague assurances.

A Kippah-Wearing Congressman’s Stand

Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), the first congressman to wear a kippah in Congress, delivered a scathing rebuke of UC Berkeley Chancellor Richard Lyons. Fine zeroed in on the university’s decision to appoint Professor Ussama Makdisi to a newly endowed chair in Palestinian and Arab Studies, despite Makdisi’s public defense of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israeli civilians as legitimate “resistance.”

“You get to decide who to hire,” Fine said. “Why would you give a position to someone who said October 7 was justified?”

Lyons called Makdisi “a fine scholar” and initially resisted condemning his remarks. After Fine pressed further, Lyons acknowledged the professor’s comments as “a celebration of the terrorist attack” but declined to reconsider the appointment. Fine, unmoved, challenged Lyons directly: “How in good conscience can you tell my son he’d be safe at your university? Jewish students do not feel safe on your campus.”

The hearing took a chaotic turn when pro-Palestinian protesters in the gallery began shouting. Fine, unyielding, confronted them: “Shut up and get out of here,” he said, addressing the final protester as a “loser.” Turning back to the chancellors, he added, “I hold you all responsible for this. It’s the attitude you’ve allowed on your campuses that makes people think this is okay.” Fine also singled out Emmanuel Ness, a Brooklyn College professor known for anti-Israel extremism, as a symbol of broader issues in academia.

Stefanik Targets CUNY’s Failures

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), whose previous hearings led to the resignations of three Ivy League presidents, focused her questioning on CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez. She demanded answers about a disturbing incident at Baruch College, where anti-Israel protesters taunted Jewish students with chants of “Where’s Hersh?”—mocking Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a hostage recently confirmed killed by Hamas. Protesters also reportedly shouted, “Go back to Brooklyn. All Zionists are terrorists.”

Stefanik pressed Rodríguez on why such behavior was tolerated. The chancellor called the chants “deplorable” but admitted that some protests occurred off-campus, limiting enforcement. He noted that a professor who once shouted “down with Zionist scum” was no longer employed but provided no details on other disciplinary measures. Stefanik was unrelenting: “You have failed the people of New York. You have failed Jewish students. This is a disgrace.”

Georgetown’s Controversial Award Questioned

Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) targeted Georgetown University’s interim President Robert Groves over the decision to award a humanitarian medal to Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, mother of Qatar’s emir. Harris read her October 7 social media post praising Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar: “The name Yahya means the one who lives… He will live on, and they will be gone.” He asked, “Why would you give a medal to someone who made such antisemitic comments?”

Groves responded that the post was “not consistent with Georgetown policy” but defended the award for Sheikha Moza’s work in global education. Unlike UC Berkeley’s Lyons, who resisted transparency on foreign donations, Groves committed to full disclosure of such funding.

A Broader Republican Push

The hearing reflected a broader Republican effort to hold universities accountable for what lawmakers described as a permissive environment for antisemitism. Lawmakers expressed frustration with what they see as administrative inaction, accusing institutions of prioritizing academic freedom over student safety.

As the session closed, Fine issued a stark warning to Lyons: “You’re next.” The remark showed that the Republicans could escalate pressure on university leaders, and public statements and apologies will no longer suffice.

With Jewish students reporting increased fear and hostility, the scrutiny of higher education’s response is unlikely to wane.